A family has enjoyed
a landmark magical
moment when their son,
a young person at Prior's
Court, visited the family
home for the fi rst time in
eight years to celebrate
his mum's birthday.
Jamie, who has been at Prior's
Court since 2014, visited his family
home over the summer to attend
a birthday party for his mum,
Lindsey, alongside the rest of the
family.
Jamie sees his family at his aunt's
house three times a year, as well
as having visits to the Prior's Court
site and at off-site locations, but
this was the fi rst time since going
into care in 2013 (before joining
Prior's Court) that Jamie has
returned to the family home.
Lindsey said: "Sadly, due to the
nature of Jamie's autism, which
has resulted in sometimes
unpredictable and aggressive
behaviour towards me, it was not
possible for Jamie to make a visit
to his home prior to this visit. But
we wanted to make it possible to
get Jamie home for my birthday."
Jamie has very close relationships
with his family members,
especially his sister Kaitlin so this
visit home was an important next
step not just for Jamie, but for all
his family.
At the birthday party, Jamie
played games with his cousins,
had a tour of the house with
Kaitlin and got to spend time
interacting with all his family
members.
Lindsey added: "Having Jamie
home for my birthday, made it
extra special. He was so excited
when he arrived to see everyone
in the garden. We all had an
amazing day."
Lindsey discussed the potential
for a visit with Gareth Hayward,
the manager of Jamie's onsite
residential home. She and
Kaitlin then spent time speaking
with Gareth and Senior Autism
Practitioner, Sandra Flores
Campellijo, ahead of the visit to
explain what had changed at the
family home in the past eight
years, so they could help Jamie to
understand what to expect.
Jamie, had a social story created to help him prepare for the visit, and
was accompanied to the party
by Sandra and Variable Autism
Practitioner Jack Seckham, who
has worked with Jamie as part of
the Prior's Court Band
Alan, Jamie's dad, said: "Jamie
has changed tremendously since
starting at Prior's Court and
returned to the house as a very
different person."
Lindsey and Alan added: "Jamie
was so well prepared, and we
cannot thank Prior's Court
enough for facilitating the visit
- specifi c thanks should go to
Gareth, Sandra and Jack for all of
their hard work."
Sarah Butcher, our Director of
Young People's Wellbeing, said:
"Magical moments like this is what
the work done at Prior's Court is all
about - giving our young people
and their families occasions like
this that they may never have
thought they would have.
"We feel a close working
relationship between Prior's Court
and the families of our young
people is crucial to our approach
and this milestone shows just
what can be achieved when that
bond is so strong."
/priorscourt @PriorsCourt @priors_court Prior's Court Foundation
"Amazing" fi rst visit home since 2013 to
celebrate mum's birthday